Tchaikovsky Who? Meet the man who composed some of the world's most famous ballets

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Russia and was the first composer from Russia to be brought to conduct and perform work in other European countries. Never heard of him? Let's listen to some of his most popular works, we bet you'll recognize one or two!

5 facts about Tchaikovsky Tchakovsky was only 4 years old when he made his first attempt at composing when he cowrote a song with his sister Alexandra. Tchaikovsky originally went to school for ciivl service. He had taken piano lessons through his whole life but didn't fully dedicate himself to music until his late teenage years. In his early career, Tchaikovsky almost exclusively composed operas. His symphonies however, gained him his reputation. Tchaikovsky is famous for writing three ballets: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, andThe Nutcracker Suite Swan Lake was the first of the three ballets produced. However due to poor staging and direction, was originally deemed a failure and pulled from his portfolio. Sleeping Beauty, 1890 1812 Overture, 1812

Let's Listen! Click the link below each picture, close your eyes, and imagine yourself floating and twirling Swan Lake, 1876

The Nutcracker Suite: a holiday classic

Listen carefully and when you go see Music House's production of The Nutcracker, listen for these popular sections of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite

March

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